PN Leader Bernard Grech has come under fire for appearing to mock US woman Andrea Prudente's pregnancy, with Prime Minister Robert Abela deeming it misogynistic and derogatory towards women.

During a debate on proposed amendments to the country's strict anti-abortion law on Wednesday, Grech was seen using harsh words and a play on words, saying that Abela should be "prudenti," playing on the similarity of the word with the US woman's surname.

He also mocked her reason for coming to Malta, which was that she had travelled more than 20 hours to celebrate her babymoon, and that he had never heard of a babymoon.

Grech had said that the nation would become heartless if abortion was introduced, and that history would remember Abela as the Prime Minister who introduced abortion with no mandate.

Abela's reaction was that he had never heard such a shocking speech.

"I was crystal clear that the amendment we are implementing is not introducing abortion," Abela said.

He described Grech's speech as misogynistic and derogatory for women, especially in light of the recent murder of Bernice Cassar.

"Surely the opposition cannot say that it is in favour of women's rights when we have an Opposition Leader who speaks in that way in Parliament. I was very shocked," Abela said.